Step 5: Collapsed - Expanded

Step 6: Measured Drawing

Here's the measured drawing. You can alter any and all dimensions to suite your own taste. The measurements shown on this drawing are estimates and ma...

Problem: I want to go car camping but, don't have an organized way of dealing with cooking, eating and cleanup besides several cardboard boxes full of camp stuff that I don't know what it is. In other words, I'm starting from scratch. The last thing I want is to get the camp site and spend time digging through piles of stuff to cook a meal. I think you know where I'm coming from.

Solution: Create a portable storage container for camping related eating, cooking and cleanup tasks that:
1. fits in the bed of my pickup.
2. folds down for easy storage.
3. expands at the camp site to provide more work space.
4. contains all the basic eating, cooking and cleanup equipment.
5. built from common on-hand materials and keep costs to a minimum.
and lastly,
6. stores easily at home ready for the next adventure.

Too good to be true? well let's give it a shot. This is a prototype version and depending on how it performs out in the field, may go through some changes.

I've attached a working drawing with dimensions that work for me. You may need to alter them to fit your needs. Good luck!

Difficulty scale: Depending on your carpentry skills, I'm rating this a 6 out of 10.

Love this! Thanks for sharing! As I look at the plans for the base, I think I am going to attempt to build it with all the hinges in the corners intact and add two more hinges in the middle of the right and left sides so the sides can fold inwards and the whole box "flattens." Wish me luck!

This is brilliant. I needed a cook station that would fit in the back of my Tahoe that wouldn't take up so much space so I could stow the rest of my gear in with it, this is virtually the perfect solution

Us Boy Scouts have been using things like this for many, many yrs. I believe we originally borrowed the design from the military. Back when the Boy Scouts were originally formed. It was a British military officer that formed the Boy Scouts in England.

Toolman, I was searching for a better way to organize my camp gear when I came across this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LanceHolly32511?feature=watch. I believe you may have been the originator of this design from the sound of your story. Not sure if you are aware of how your great design has caught on and reinvented. I too made your camp box and just now putting the finishing touches on it... a series of polyurethand coats to keep it safe should I forget to cover it when I retire for the night. I'll try to upload the pics and video this weekend.

Looks good! the only improvement I would make is to change the latches. I don't know how smart the raccoons are in your area but here they would open up that box in no time.On our camp box we have hasps with small biner clips to hold it shut and safe from raccoons. Otherwise great design!!

While i like the look and functionality of your stand, it's the only part i feel needs an improvement. Back when I went camping with scouts our chuck box hand simple legs made of, if i recall correctly, 2x4s placed into angled slots. while in itself this isn't an advantage, the benefit was that these same legs were placed into horizontal slots immediately above the angled ones to become handles to easily carry the box into camp.

The object was to design a collapsible stand that would fold flat and store in about the same amount of room that the box took up. I'm sure that one might come up with a wide variety of different stand designs.

I like a trivet to set hot pots on, It sometimes helps when cooking to let things stand or just to get them off the burner. It would be great to add one next to the stove. you could build it right into the surface. A peg hole and a dowel could set up into a paper towel holder when it's open. I like to have them right out in the open when Camp cooking. Great look'n go box, I wish you much success with the final version and hope my suggestions help.

Very nice project! My only comment is concerning the organization of stuff inside the box. I would make it a point to not mix cleaning supplies and foodstuffs in one door/storage area, especially if you have kids along with you. Other than that it looks spectacular.

Nicely done! I would also add some dish tubs for cleaning the dishes. The nice thing is that you can pack the cleaning supplies in these tubs (and then seal the tubs up so chemicals don't spill into the food) and add separation of foods and chemicals that way.

In one of the photos on the last page, it looked like the fold out table tops were starting to bend. Did you have any issues with weight in testing?

For latches, did you consider rare earth magnets? There's a couple of products out there that use the magnet to hold the door shut, and then a wand you apply to the back of the latch area (another magnet inside) that pulls the metal away from the latch magnet so you can open it. This wand can be connected via string and stored by the handles.

You've done an amazing job! I've been looking for a good chuck box design for years! Yours reminds me a lot of the one that my father made when I was a kid. He didn't have a stand or umbrella, though. The bed of the truck was "good enough" for him. lol

I like it, the only thing I can think to add at the moment is a set of door/shelves to the back. This will add support to the fold out top, add more storage space, and allow you to make the top a little wider for extra work space. You of course can keep the flat back panel that is already there, just add two swing box style doors (Like on the front) on the rear and widen the top. Great pics btw. :)

About This Instructable

Bio:a.k.a. "The Toolman" has been creative and worked with his hands all of his life. He has been employed in a wide variety of industries including a museum, a major power tool manufacturer, a national v...read more »